The historic document that laid the foundation for modern democracy is the Magna Carta. Signed in 1215 in England, it was a pivotal charter that limited the powers of the king and established certain legal rights for subjects. The Magna Carta introduced principles such as due process and the idea that even the monarch is subject to the law. While its immediate effects were limited, it inspired future democratic movements and legal frameworks, influencing constitutional development in many countries around the world.